Duluth RBA
Duluth RBA
Duluth RBA
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-RBA *Minnesota *Duluth/North Shore *February 20, 2003 *MNDU0302.20 -Birds mentioned
Hotline: Minnesota, Duluth/North Shore
Date: February 20, 2003
Sponsor: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU)
Reports: (218) 728-5030
Compiler: David R. Benson (drbenson@cpinternet.com)
Transcriber: David R. Benson (drbenson@cpinternet.com)
This is the Duluth Birding Report for Thursday, February 20, 2003, sponsored by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
On the 15th Jim Lind found a female WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL building a nest in Two Harbors. Although this species undoubtedly breeds in Minnesota, there is only one other documented record of a nest. With so many of these birds around this winter, it is a good time to be alert for possible nesting.
On the 17th Jeff Newman reported a VARIED THRUSH in West Duluth. To reach the location, follow Redruth St up the hill to its end. Follow the railroad grade for .75 to 1.0 mile toward Spirit Mountain. The bird was seen just along the trail on the grade. Another VARIED THRUSH is being seen in Bruce Stahly's backyard, about three miles west of Grand Marais. It was first noticed on January 20th, and has been seen fairly regularly since then, most recently on February 7th.
On the 17th a male HARLEQUIN DUCK joined the group of up to five female or immature birds in Agate Bay in Two Harbors. The TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was seen again in the vicinity of the tugboat on the 15th. The RUSTY BLACKBIRD on 2nd and 3rd was seen again on the 17th.
Kim Eckert reported seeing over 500 ducks in the Canal Park area in Duluth on the 19th, including 250 COMMON GOLDENEYES and over 300 MALLARDS. There were also AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, COMMON MERGANSERS, RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, a CANADA GOOSE, and a NORTHERN PINTAIL. HORNED GREBES were reported over the weekend in Two harbors.
A GREAT GRAY OWL was seen on the 15th in the Sax-Zim area on Cty Rd 7 near Cty Rd 319, and another was seen on Sunday south of the Sod Farm on Cty Rd 7.
The MOU Field Trip found several BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS over the weekend, including along McDavitt Rd 2-3 miles north of the Sax Rd. The group also found a SPRUCE GROUSE on Hwy 1 in Lake Cty near mile marker 302.
BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were reported this week from Ely, McGregor, Two Harbors, and Lakewood Township in Duluth.
The next scheduled update of this report will be on Thursday, February 27.
The phone number for the Duluth Birding Report is (218) 728-5030, and callers can report bird sightings if they wish after the tone at the end of each tape.
The Duluth Birding Report is sponsored and funded by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU) as a service to its members. For more information on the MOU, either write us c/o the Bell Museum of Natural History, 10 Church Street SE, Minneapolis MN 55455; or send an e-mail to mou@cbs.umn.edu; or visit the MOU web site at mou.mn.org.
